This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6198983.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Turkmen president 'dies aged 66' Turkmenistan leader dies aged 66
(10 minutes later)
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the gas-rich Central Asian country for 20 years, has died aged 66, government sources say. Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the gas-rich Central Asian country for 21 years, has died aged 66, state television has reported.
Mr Niyazov became Turkmenistan's Communist Party chief in 1985. He reportedly died at about 0430 local time (2330 GMT) of a sudden cardiac arrest, the TV said.
In 1991 he was elected the first president of independent Turkmenistan. In 1999 the supreme legislative body made him president-for-life. Mr Niyazov became the country's Communist Party chief in 1985 and was elected the first president of independent Turkmenistan in 1991.
Mr Niyazov had publicly acknowledged that he was taking medication for a heart condition. Mr Niyazov was known to be taking medication for a heart condition.
In 1999 the supreme legislative body, the Mejlis, made him president-for-life.
SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV In power of the former Soviet state since 1985Made president-for-life in 1999Established a cult of personality and tolerated no dissent Styled himself Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all TurkmensPublicly acknowledged he took medicine for a heart condition
During his reign, Mr Niyazov established a cult of personality in which he was styled as Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all Turkmens.
Mr Niyazov was intolerant of criticism and allowed no political opposition or free media in the nation of five million people.
All candidates in the December 2004 parliamentary elections, at which there were no foreign observers, were his supporters.
Analysts say Turkmenistan, a mostly Muslim nation with large oil and gas resources, faces an uncertain future after Mr Niyazov's death, as there are no clear successors.